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Free meals available to area children this summer

This summer area school districts, including 197, 199, and 6, are participating in the Minnesota Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program.

These districts are providing free, healthy breakfast and lunch meals at multiple schools in northern Dakota County to children ages 18 and younger.

According to ISD 197 communications specialist Travis Andrews, the number of meals served through ISD 197 is up 7 percent already from the summer of 2014.

In 2014 there were about 32,000 meals served at school locations in ISD 197.

For most of these meal programs, no pre-registration is required; children can simply show up to receive a meal.

These meals will be served at the following locations:

• Henry Sibley High School Cafeteria, 1897 Delaware Avenue, Mendota Heights, will serve breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 6.

• Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet Cafeteria, 217 West Moreland Avenue, West St. Paul, will serve breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 20.

• Garlough Environmental Magnet Cafeteria, 1740 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, will serve breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 6, and Monday through Friday from Aug. 10 to Aug. 21.

“This program is crucial to many children in our area, and we are proud to provide them with healthy, accessible meals,” said Jeff Wolfer, ISD 197 child nutrition director. “Last summer we served nearly 32,000 meals to children, and this summer we hope to serve even more with the help of volunteers from our community.”

The Summer Food Service Program assists local organizations, such as schools, to operate programs providing nutritious meals and healthy activities for children during the summer months when school-year nutrition and activity programs are unavailable.